Head-protector



C. HORAN.

HEAD PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. Io, 1920.

Patented Apr. 26, 1921.

parte CHARLES HOB/AN, Oli? NEW YQRK, N. Y.

HEAD-PRDTECTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 26, 1921.

Application filed September 10, 1920. Serial No. 409,320.

To @ZZ w lio/m. t may concern le it known that l, CHARLES Homin, a citizen or the United States, residing at New York city, in the county of N ew York and State of N ew York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Headl rotectors, iully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawing, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to head protectors. The invention has been made with the idea of providing a head protector for use by baseball batters, lacrosse players, hockey players, etc., and the invention aims to provide a head protector oli light weight and of i simple design which .may be readily put on and oilq and may be worn with but little discomiort and without interfering with the vision or freedom of the wearer, and which shall ailord adequate protection to the vulnerable parts of the wearers head and neck against impact ci' a baseball or blows from a lacrosse stick or other game implement. rlhe use or the device is of course not liinited to athletic games or sports, the device being usei'ul wherever protection such as it affords is desirable.

lin understanding o the invention can best be given by a description in connection with drawings illustrating an approved embodiment of the invention, and such a description will now be given in connection with the accomanying drawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view oi a head protector embodying the invention in the foi-in now considered best; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view ot the protector.

The protector as shown in the drawings consists of a slab of light, resilient and slightly flexible shock-absorbing material shaped to extend about the back of the head and neck oii' the wearer and forward about the sides ot the head suiiiciently far to protect the temples and most desirably entirely open in iront to leave the face of the wearer uncovered. Most desirably it is ot approximately the shape shown, that is of a, general U shape in cross-section with the iront side portions lO and l1 extending somewhat inward toward each other and having its rear and side walls extending vertically straight, or it may be described as of hollow cylindrical or approximately cylindrical form open at the front. The

protector is made ot' suiiicient depth to extend from near the'top of the head down past the base of the skull, and. of suitable size so that its front edge portions will protect the temples, and is best shaped so that its front side portions will lightly grip the sides of the wearers head. When so shaped, the protector will maintain its position on the head of the wearer through its inherent elasticity, and the provision of additional securing or holding means is unnecessary. Ear openings l2 and 13 are formed in the sides oi"- the protector, which may be recesses extending upward from the bottom edge as shown.

The protector is best formed of a plurality of thin sheets of cork cemented together inthe desired shape with a thin layer or iilling between the sheets or layers to add to the strength and resiliency of the built up slab. it is important to use a suitable cement, and l have found a casein cement known as casein compound most suitable, and for a iiller l use a small quantity of comminuted bamboo and av small quantity of comininuted rubber. Bamboo is used because of the strength and elasticity of its liber, and the rubber aids in securing the desired limited degree of flexibility combined with high resiliency.

ln making a protector, the several sheets or layers of cork ot suitable size are most conveniently laid together iiat with the cement and filler between the cork sheets, a cork sheet being placed on a fiat support, its surface being then covered with the casein cement and a small amount of the comminuted iilling material, when used, being evenly distributed over the cement covered surface. The next layer of cork is then applied and coated, and another layer of cork applied, and so on until the desired number ot sheets have been laid together. Then be" fore the cement sets the built up slab is placed about and pressed together against a` form, most desirably under high pressure, whereby all the layers are pressed together into close contact, and is so held until the cement has set. The edges of the protector are then iinished oif and the portions adjacent the front edges are tapered off preferably on the inner side as shown, and the ear openings are cut out unless such openings were formed in the sheets before being laid together to form the slab.

I have Jfound that a protector made as described of tive sheets or layers of cork each a little less than one-eighth of an inch in thickness, with the layers secured together by casein compound and with a filling between the layers comprising in the Whole protector a total of about l oz. of cornminuted bamboo and about lgozs. of coniminuted rubber, has the strength and resiliency7 resistance to impact, and shock-absorbing` quality necessary tor affording adequate protection against missiles such as baseballs and against blows such as might be expected to be received in playing lacrosse and similar gaines. The comminuted bainboo used is preferably off about the degree oi" tineness ot coarse sawdust and the coinininuted rubl'ier is somewhat finer.

What is claimed is:

l. A head protector 'formed of a slab of light, resilient and slightly llexible shoclralisorbing` material shaped to entend about the bach of the head and neck of the wearer and forward about the sides of the heat"L suthciently to protect the temples and being open in iront and adapted to lightly grip the sides of the head through its inherent elasticity and thereby retain its position.

2. A head protector formed of a slab oi light, resilient and slightly flexible shockabsorbing material shaped to extend about the back of the head and neck of the wearer and -.forward about the sides of the head sulliciently to protect the temples and being` open in iront and having an ear opening on each side and being adapted to lightly grip the sides ci' the head through its inherent elasticity and thereby retain its position.

3. A head protector formed of a slab ot light, resilient and slightly flexible shoclrabsorbing material composed principally oit corlr shaped to extend about the back oi the head and noch oit the wearer and forward about the sides of the head suihciently to protect the temples and beingopen in :trent and adapted to lightly grip the sides ci the head through its inherent elasticity and thereby retain its position.

4. A. head protector formed oi a plurality or thin sheets of cork cemented together and shaped to extend about the bach of the head and neclr of the wearer and forward about the sides oit the head sufficiently to protect the temples and being` open in iront and adapted to lightly grip the sides of the head through its inherent elasticity and thereby retain its position.

5. il head protector comprising a substantially cylindrical slab open at the iront and adapted to entend approximately around the head oi the wearer and consisting ola plurality or' thin sheets oif cork cemented together.

6. i head protector Jformed ot resilient shoclr absorbing` material composed of a plurality of thin sheets of cork cemented together and shaped to extend about the head oi 'the wearer.

'l'. i head protector comprising a substantially cylindrical slab open at the iront and adapted to entend approximately around the head of the wearer and consisting oi a plurality oit thin sheets of corlr cemented together with a layer or finely divided liller between some of the adjacent sheets.

8. il.. head protector comprisin@` a substantially cylindrical slab open at the iront and adapted to extend approximately around the head ot the wearer and consisting of plurality of thin sheets oi cori; inentcd together with coinminuted bamboo distributed between the cemented sheets.

9. El head protector comprising a substantially cylindrical slab open at the front and adapted to entend approximately @und the head of the wearer and consisting ot a plurality ot thin sheets of corlr cemented tog'eth with coinrninuted rubber distributed between the cemented sheets.

l0. it lead protector comprising1 a substantially cylindrical slab open at the trent and afaL ted to extend approrrimately` :Vi-round the head oi' the `yv'earer and consistingv olf a plurality of thin sheets of cori-'z haybetw en the sheets a thin layer of comminuted bamboo, coniniiiiuted rubber and casein ccnient the cement servingl to secure "he sheets and iller together to a re- L 'ly flexible slab.

. li. head protector' oi' hollow approxicyi" 'Arical torni onen at the 'iront ts olf tier with casein cement. ereoi` have hereunto set my hand in the presence or two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES HOlteN.

Witnesses Eri-inn il orirns, ltflarsin Martinus. 

